Latest News Briefs, Statements and Facts Post-bombing

Latest News Briefs, Statements and Facts Post-bombing

NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, July 7, 2005

11:26 a.m. - Rudolph Giuliani was in Liverpool Street station this morning as some of the bombs went off. He's just been on the media saying:

"My heart goes out to the people who were affected by this, it reminds me so much of 11 September. I feel very sorry for them and I offer all the support and help and assistance that we can give.

"I was right near Liverpool [Street] Station when the first bomb went off and was notified of it and it was just to me very eerie to be right there again when one of these attacks takes place.

"These are dastardly cowardly acts and the best way to react to them is to stand up to them and do everything we can to support the people that were affected by it, but not to let these terrorists affect our way of life."

10:25 a.m. - Pope Benedict XVI said Thursday he deplored the "terrorist attacks" in London, calling them "barbaric acts against humanity," and said he was praying for the families of the victims.

In a telegram sent to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, Benedict said he was deeply saddened to learn of the news and was spiritually close to all those who were grieving.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the terrorist attacks in central London, the Holy Father offers his fervent prayers for the victims and for all those who mourn," the telegram said. "While he deplores these barbaric acts against humanity, he asks you to convey to the families of the injured his spiritual closeness at this time of grief."

"Upon the people of Great Britain, he invokes the consolation that only God can give in such circumstances," said the telegram, signed by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. © 2005 The Associated Press

10:17 a.m. - Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who said he plans to go ahead with a visit to London later this month, condemned the attacks.

"I express my horror and disgust at this cowardly attack on innocent people," he said.

"These sorts of attacks will not alter the determination of free countries to do the right thing," he added. "It's important that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our British allies at a time such as this."

9:44 a.m. - London's Police Commisioner said, "There have been at least six explosions in London this morning.

"We are advising members of the public not to travel into London. Public transport in London will be affected in the next few days.

"We are also asking members of the public not to contact police at this stage unless it is a genuine emergency.

"We are co-ordinating the other emergency services in responding to this major incident.

"We will be issuing a telephone number shortly for worried relatives. It is too early to confirm the numbers of casualties at this stage. We hope to have the situation under control very soon."

9:19 a.m. - A Sky News reporter says a thousand people have some sort of injury, 41 people may be dead, and 150 are seriously injured.

9:12 a.m. - London officials say more than 300 reported injured so far.

9:05 a.m. - A witness tells MSNBC that the roof was blown off one of the subway trains abd there were "Dead bodies all over the tracks>"

8:55 a.m. - One rescue is ongoing in Britain's oldest subway station. Also, the reason there are differing reports of the number of explosions is that people were running in opposite directions, and may have reported the same explosion from a different place.

8:41 a.m. - The mayor of London Ken Livingstone has told citizens not to travel, and that he knows it's a terror attack and not a maintenance tragedy. He praised the citizens of London for their calm. He also said the violence was indiscriminate - not directed at prime ministers or leaders, but at common, working class people of all races, nationalities and religions. He also said al-Qaida will fail in their long term efforts to divide Londoners, and terrorize free people.

8:35 a.m. - An al-Qaida Web posting says the Italians and the Danes are next for sending troops to Iraq.

Story Continues Below

8:32 a.m. - President Bush said he instructed Homeland Security to plan withlocal communities to be prepared during the U.S. morning commute. He also said that what happened in London was "vivid," and that we will never yield to terrorists, rather, we will continue pushing an ideology of freedom that will overwhelm the hate of the terrorists.

8:31 a.m. - One winess reports that the double-decker bus in which a bomb exploded had the top half of it ripped off and go flying through the air. The latest rumors say it was a suicide bomber who blew up the bus.

8:15 a.m. - Scotland Yard Reports Seven Explosions; U.S. Transit Systems on Alert; ITN Reports at Least 20 Dead; Buckingham Palace Ringed with Security

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

War on Terrorism